Rotary veneer clipper

ABSTRACT

A rotary clipper for veneer and the like having a thin blade which cuts through veneer while moving in the same direction as the veneer while the latter moves over a supporting drum. The blade has an edge opposite its cutting edge which bears against a bracing drum while the blade cuts through the veneer. The drum and the blade are synchronized and rotated so that the cutting edge of the blade moves over the face of the drum at the same speed as the veneer moves over that drum.



1. Apparatus for cutting veneer and like strip material into continuously varying lengths comprising a rotatable support drum over which veneer to be clipped is moved, a thin blade having at least one cutting edge rotatably mounted above the support drum and adapted to be rotated around a longitudinal axis extending parallel to the drum, said blade being so positioned relative to the drum that the cutting edge cuts through veneer on the drum when said edge passes the drum during rotation of the blade, a rotatable bracing drum above the blade and extending parallel therewith and positioned to be engaged by an edge of the blade opposite the cutting edge thereof while said cutting edge is cutting through veneer on the support drum, and means for rotating the blade on command to cut the veneer at a desired position.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for stopping and braking the blade after the cutting edge thereof has completed a cut through the veneer.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said edge of the blade opposite said cutting edge thereof also is a cutting edge.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including means for stopping and braking the blade after each cutting edge thereof has completed a cut through the veneer.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means connected to an end of the blade for maintaining the latter under tension longitudinally of the blade.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for rotating the blade comprises a clutch brake operatively connected to the blade, a power source operatively connected to the clutch brake, and means selectively to operate the clutch brake to cause said blade to rotate.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for synchronizing the rotation of the support drum, the bracing drum and the blade to cause the cutting edge of the blade to move at the same speed as veneer moving over the support drum.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including power means for moving the veneer over the support drum at the same speed as the blade cutting edge. 